Chicago, cheap hotel, near north
 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a clean cheap hotel near Clark and Division streets?

There is a Days Inn at Clark and Diversey and about a block east, there's The Willows Hotel. About a half mile north at Belmont and Clark is City Suites which is operated by the same company as The Willows. Another half mile north is the Best Western Hawthorne Terrace on Broadway near Addison.

Hi spaarne,
Also, the Inn at Lincoln Park is right by Clark and Diversey.
http://www.innlp.com/wp/

My DW and I enjoyed the HI Hostel on Congress.
Many college students dorm on the upper floors.
http://www.hichicago.org/
Hostel World says this is the "best large hostel in the US".

Seldom mentioned is Heart O Chicago which we've stayed at several times in years past. Nothing fancy here, but good price and location on NW side...5990 N. Ridge. With parking.
www.heartochicago.com

Thank you all. I want to get out of Michigan for a few days but don't want to spend the whole SS check on a hotel room.

The Best Western Hawthorne is a very nice little boutique-style hotel, with continenal breakfast. And good little neighborhood restaurants there. It isn't that cheap, but is moderate and a good value.

I've heard good things about all those places and they all seem nice enough. One thing: Diversey is about a mile north of Division, a short bus ride. Priceline might be your friend here, too.

tomfuller,
THANK YOU ! ! !

I stayed at the HI hostel in Chicago for four nights, for less than a single night at any other hotel I could find in Chicago. I am about 3x older than my 7 roommates. They were very quiet. Guys from all over Europe. Very clean and respectful. The room had a toilet and shower.

The included breakfast got me going every morning -- toast, cream cheese, jam, juice, fruit, coffee, croissants. It is an excellent location, just one block from Michigan Avenue and plenty of buses and a block in the other direction from the subway Red Line to get to Wrigley Field. The Cubs/Cardinals game was electrifying. You can't believe it unless you've been there.

The classic Berghoff cafe a few blocks away on Adams is a good choice for a sandwich or brats and a beer, or dinner.

The HI has free WiFi, ATM in the lobby ($3 surcharge), transit ticket machine in the lobby, pool table, ping pong table, library, and extra friendly folks at the front desk.

Glad you enjoyed your visit, Spaarne.

Glad you enjoyed your stay at the HI Hostel in Chicago. My DW said she would go there again. I even remember doing laundry there before getting on the CA Zephyr headed for Glenwood Springs.
HI Hostels don't work for everyone, but are great for the solo traveler, are great for breakfast.